Ammonium-perchlorate explosives



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RUSSELL M. COOK AND EDGAR WJHARRIS, OF TAMAQU'A, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO ATLAS POWDER COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

AMMONIUM-PERCHLORATE EXPLOSIVES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, RUSSELL M. (300K and EDGAR W. HARRIS, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Tamaqua, in the county of Schuylkill and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful .Improvements in Ammonium-Perchlorate Explosives, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to ammonium perchlorate explosives of varying strength and properties, particularly adapted for use in blasting work, but capable of use in other relations. o

The object of our invention is to provide a quite complete line of non-freezing ammonium perchlorate explosives having the desirable properties of nitroglycerin explosives without the disadvantages of freezing at certain lowered temperatures and of giving the users the headaches characteristic of nitroglycerin. We propose to provide explosives which can be satisfactorily substituted for the various grades and strengths of nitroglycerin dynamites and in many cases for nitroglycerin gelatin dynamites and gelignites, with entire satisfaction.

We have found by actual. and extensive tests that our ammonium perchlorate explosives prepared in the manner hereinafter set forth areequal or superior to equivalent strength nitroglycerin dynamitcs in either wet or dry work, open or closed work and in warm or cold weather.

Furthermore the explosives possess sufficient propagation sensitiveness for American blasting conditions; are capable of a most exacting degree of safety in manufacture and use; possess oxygen balance such that there will be, on detonation, no harmful evolution of poisonous gases or fumes, such as carbon monoxid and hydrogen sulfid; contain suflicient material to positively combine with chlorin, so that none or only the most negligible traces of uncombined chlorin or hydrochloric acid willbe present after detonation; have a satisfactory consistency for most convenient manufacture Application filed September 2, 1920.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 407,754.

and use; have an effective degree of water resistance and resistance to atmospheric moisture; have such resistance to flame, heat, shock, friction, etc., as to give them a safety which will compare very favorably with straight nitroglycerin dynamites; can be stored for long periods in "arious climates, without deterioration; and may be made in a wide range of strengths and rates of detonation to provide explosives suitable for practically all kinds of work.

Our method of manufacture renders it possible to carefully control the density of the explosives, whichis highly desirable to the general trade. lVe control the propagation sensitiveness by a suitable preparation and combination of the ingredients and the packing density of the explosives. In carrying out the manufacture of the explosives t e ammonium perchlorate is ground so that at least thereof will pass a 60 mesh standard screen, i. e. .0087" square openings and .008" diameter wire. Since we have found that trinitrotoluene lends propagation sensitiveness we use it in the largest amount compatible with the other properties required of the particular explosives being made, namely, between 15% and 30%. We use liquid nitro-aromatics, but no more of the same than is necessary for satisfactory consistency,-namely 0.5% to 5%. To provide resistance to water or moisture, our water soluble or hygroscopic ingredients are coated with mineral or vegetable oils or waxes in amounts between 0.1% and 1.5% as a maximum,'because we find that larger amounts are deleterious to propagation sensitiveness. We control the density of the explosives to the end that a dynamite cartridge 13; in diameter by 8" long, when filled with the explosives to a degree of firmness satisfactory tothe trade, shall weigh no more than 227 grams and no less than 168 grams. Outside of these limits the explosives show a' depreciation of propagation sensitiveness. We have found both sodium nitrate and manganese dioxid very satisfactory as materials to combine with the 15%, and the sodium nitrate in amounts between 5% and 50%. It is desirable to have the explosives sufliciently moist and cohesive so they may be packed and used conveniently, yet at the same time it is desirable to keep the desensitizing effect of liquid ingredients at a minimum. Therefore, the liquid nitro-aromatics employed range from 0.0% to 5%.

We so combine our ingredients within the specified limits that our explosives oxygen balances will be within the range minus 4% to plus 6%.

We obtain an effective degree of water and moisture resistance without a severe desensitizing action by coating our water soluble ingredients with not less than 0.1% and not more than 1.5% of a mineral or vegetable oil or wax, or mixtures thereof.

The favorable degree of safety toward flame, heat, shock, friction, etc., possessed by our explosives, in comparison with straight nitroglycerin dynamites is accomplished by our peculiar selection and combination of ingredients, and the percentages thereof that we employ. Outside of the limitations recited, ammonium perchlorate explosives may be made having varying lowered degrees of safety to positive unsafeness in handling.

The ability to be stored for long periods in various climates without deterioration is closely connected with our peculiar selection and combination of ingredients, especially to limiting the amounts of liquid nitroaromatics and coatings of water soluble ingredients. Our explosives containers or cartridges are made from oiled or parafiined paper and, after the explosives are packed in them, they are given the additional benefit of a complete dip in some molten wax such as parafiin or ceresin, in a known way.

The ammonium perchlorate contents of our line of non-freezing explosives varies between 15% and We do not vary either the solid or liquid nitro-aromatics widely. We have found that we can vary equivalent weight strengths very satisfactorily and simply by essentially substituting sodium nitrate for ammonium perchlorate, and vice-versa, the result being that for widely varying strengths it is not necessary to vary the amounts of the other ingredients widely.

As examples of formulas illustrative of the foregoing and which we may employ,

the following may be cited.

str gth. strength.

Per cent. Per cent. Coated ammonium perchlorate 21. 56 Manganese dioxid 4 11 Coated nitrate of soda.... 47. 5 8.5 Liquid dinitroto1uene 2 1.5" Trmitrotoluene 22 22. 5

ulfur 3 Chalk 0. 5 0. 5

Having described our invention, what we clalm 1s:

1. The herein described ammonlum perchlorate explosives consisting of the following ingredients combined in substantially the proportions stated: ammonium perchlorates (at least 50% must pass a 60 mesh standard sieve, coated with 0.1% to 1.5% vegetable or mineral waxes or oils) 15% to 65%, manganese dioxid 3% to 15%, sodium nitrate (coated with 0.1% to 1.5% vegetable or mineral waxes or oils) 5% to 50%, liquid nitroaromatics 0.5% to,5%, crude or refined trinitrotoluenes 15% to 30%, sulfur 0.0% to 7%, chalk 0.0% to 3%, when proportions of ingredients within these limits are taken for a given strength of explosive in such a manner that the oxygen balance on explosive only will be between minus four per cent. and plus six per cent.

2. The herein described ammonium perchlorate explosives consisting of the following ingredients combined in substantially the proportions stated: ammonium perchlorate (at least 50% must pass a 60 mesh standard sieve, coated with 0.1% to 1.5% vegetable or. mineral waxes or oils) 15% to 65%, manganese dioxid 3% to 15%, sodium nitrate (coated with 0.1% to 1.5% vegetable or mineral waxes or oils) 5% to 50%, liquid nitroaromatics 0.5% to 5%, crude or refined trinitrotoluenes 15% to 30%, sulfur 0.0% to 7%, chalk 00% to 3%, when proportions of ingredients within these limits are taken for a given strength of explosive in such a manner that the oxygen balance on explosive only will be between minus four per cent. and plus six per cent, and the density, when packed to a degree of firmness suitable to the trade, shall be such that'an ordinary dynamite shell 1% inches in diameter by 8 inches long so loaded with it shall not weigh less than 168 grams or more than 227 grams.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

RUSSELL M. COOK. EDGAR W. HARRIS. Witnesses: 

